Pump primer



Oct. 20, 1942. Y I B. MOORE 2,299,556

PUMP PRIMER Filed July 21, 1959 65 Z Y 26 V NVENTOR. flame/a Mam? Patented Oct. 20, 1942 page 'E'E'l' OFHC PUMP PRIMER Bernard L. Moore, Spokane, Wash.

Application July 21, 1939", Serial No. 285,788

7 Claims.

in a dry state and causing overheating of the engine due to lack of water circulating in the water jacket.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the primer that it will be actuated by suction from the intake manifold of the engine and thus set in operation as soon as the engine is started.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the primer that it Will operate for a limited period of time when the engine is started and the primer out out and rendered inoperative after proper flow of water through the pump has-been effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a primer wherein Water is drawn through the pump and into a Water receptacle or tank by suction through the tank when the engine is started, avalve for controlling flow of Water from the tank being closed by the suction to temporarily, retain the water in the tank, and an inlet valve for the tank being closed by a float when water in the tank reaches a predetermined depth therein and suction through the tank being thus shut off so that the outlet of the tank may open and eiiect emptying of the tank after the pump has been primed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a primer which is entirely automatic in operation, thus insuring priming of the pump when the engine is started and also proper shutting off of the primer when the pump is operating properly. I

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the improved primer operatively connected with an engine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken transversely through the primer on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the primer.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the rotary pump in section and a pipe of the primer connected therewith.

The engine, indicated in general by the numeral I, is a marine engine of the usual type used as a power plant for a boat and has an intake manifold 2 through which fuel is delivered to the cylinders of the engine. The pump 3 for circulating cooling water through the Water jacket of the engine has the usual casing 4 in which toothed rotors 5. and 6 operate, the rotor 5 being carried by the shaft 7 of the generator 3 by means of which the pump is driven. A pipe 9 leads from the pump casing and, in order to conduct Water from a lake or river to the pump, there has been provided the usual pipe It. The pump and its drive means are of conventional construction and arrangement of parts.

The improved priming mechanism for the pump includes a receptacle or tank i l formed of strong metal and having a cover 52 which is held in place by screws I3, a gasket Hi being provided to form a tight seal between the tank and its cover. A cylinder l5 extends vertically through the tank II and its cover i2 near one end of the tank with its lower portion projecting downwardly from the tank an appreciable distance and carrying a coupler or fitting It by means of which it is connected with a pipe i'l through which water is to be discharged into the bilge of a boat or back into the river or lake. An annular valve seat [8 is mounted in the lower end of the engine cylinder l5 for engagement by a valve I9 which moves upwardly to closed position and the stem 20 of the valve is connected with a piston 2i by a link 22 having a swiveled joint 23 intermediate its length. The piston operates in the cylinder i5 and it will be readily understood that when the piston is drawn upwardly by suction in the upper portion of the cylinder, the valve 19 will be moved to closed position. A screw 24 serves as a stop to limit downward movement of the piston in the cylinder. Openings I5 which are of a diameter appreciably less than the internal diameter of the tube 31 establish communication between the tank and the cylinder.

A valve casing 25 is mounted through the bottom of the casing at the opposite end thereof from the cylinder l5 and in this valve casing is mounted the upper end of a tube 25 which is secured by a coupling and has its lower end connected with the casing of the pump by a coupling 21. This coupling El is close to the pipe Ill and when suction is exerted through the tube 26, water will be drawn through the pipe iii and tube 26 and discharged into the tank I I through the valve casing 25. The inner or upper end portion of the valve casing 25 is formed with an internal valve seat 28 for engagement by a plunger valve 29 which projects upwardly in the tank and is formed with a ball 30 mounted between the forks 3i of the rocker arm 32 which is pivoted to the fulcrum support 33 and, at its other end carries a float 34 by means of which it is to be rocked to raise and lower the valve stem. Since the rocker arm is connected with the stem of the valve 29 by a universal joint, the valve will be shifted vertically when the rocker arm is moved and binding will not occur. The weight of the float normally holds the rocker arm in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, with the valve 29 open.

In order to draw Water into the tank and close the valve l9 to retain water in the tank, suction is created in the tank and also in the upper portion of the cylinder 15 through the medium of a pipe 35 having one end communicating with the intake manifold 2. The other end of the pipe 35 is connected to a T-coupling 36 from which extend branch pipes 31 and 38, the branch 31 being connected with the upper end of the cylinder [5 by a coupling or fitting 39 and the branch 33 being connected with the tank by a coupling or fitting 43. It will thus be seen that when the engine is started and suction takes place in the manifold 2, suction will also be created through pipe 35 and its branches to create suction in the tank and the upper portion of the cylinder. Suction in the cylinder will draw the piston 2| upwardly to close the valve I9 and, as suction continues through the branch 38, suction will be created through pipe 26, pump casing 4, and pipe H], to draw water from the lake or river into the tank. Since the diameter of the openings I5 is appreciably less than the. internal diameter of pipe 3'! and the bore of the coupling 33, suction through pipe 31 will exert upwardly pull upon the piston 2| and draw the valve l9 to a closed position. Suction through the openings l5 exerts upward pull upon the valve l9 and since there is greater suction through pipe 31 than through the openings 15, the piston and the valve I9 will be held raised. If the valve attempts premature closing, suction through the tube lT' will shift it upwardly in a closing direction and it'will be held closed as long as the engine is in operation. The openings l5 in walls of the cylinder are smaller than the area of pipe 31 as, otherwise, there would be an equalization of pressure on both sides of piston 2| and it would not move with vacuum in the receptacle II. A portion of the water passing through the pump casing will be taken up by the rotors 5 and 6 and forced through pipe 9 to the water jacket 26 of the engine but the remainder of the water will flow through pipe 26 to the tank and gradually fill the tank. The vacuum in the pump exceeds that of the engine only in wide open throttle operation. When vacuum in the manifold 2 is at its lowest, the vacuum in the pump is at its highest because of its high speed but, of course, only after the pump is primed and in operation. This difference in vacuum depends upon the size, etc., of the engine relative to the pump, but will not cause the primer to fail to operate. As the water rises in the tank, the float will be lifted to rock the rocker arm to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and valve 29 will be closed. This will cut oil suction through the pipe 26 and suction in the tank and upper portion of the cylinder will be equalized so that the piston may move downwardly. The piston 2| is partially in water, but the weight of the piston, the valve 19, and the linkage connecting the same, is greater than the piston will support, acting as a float. When the engine is stopped, there is no lift on the piston and it drops of its own weight, the valve l9 moving with it to open position. The valve [9 will thus move to open position and water may drain from the tank through .openings l5 and out through the lower portion of the cylinder and through pipe I! into the bilge of the boat or back to the river or lake. Since the pump will have been primed by water drawn into the pump casing through pipe I!) by suction through pipe 26, water will be forced to the water jacket of the engine substantially as soon as the engine is started, although there will be a slight drag of a few seconds, and overheating due to initial failure of the pump will be eliminated. The vacuum of the pump will exceed the vacuum of the engine and hold the valve 24 closed even if no water exists in the chamber.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle, a cylinder constituting an outlet for said receptacle, a valve movable into and out of closed position for preventing discharge of water from the receptacle through the cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for closing the valve, a pipe line for connecting the intake manifold of an engine with the receptacle and the cylinder for creating suction through the receptacle and in the cylinder to act upon the piston and move the valve to closed position, a pipe having one end communicating with the pump casing adjacent the inlet thereof, a valve for connecting the other end of said pipe with said receptacle mounted through the bottom of the receptacle and having a stem movable upwardly to open the valve, a rocker arm pivotally mounted in said receptacle with one end connected with the valve stem, and a float carried by the other end of the rocker arm and serving as a weight for normally holding the rocker arm in position to open the valve and as means for moving the rocker arm into position to close the valve and shut off suction through the hemp-- tacle when the water in the receptacle reaches" a predetermined point.

'2. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle having a valve controlled inlet for communicating with a pump and a valve controlled outlet, actuating means for the inlet valve including a rocker arm and a float carried thereby for closing the inlet valve when water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, suction actuated means for closing the outlet valve, and a pipe line for connecting the suction actuated means and the upper portion of said receptacle with the intake manifold of an engine whereby suction in the manifold may exert suction through the pipe line to close the outlet valve and draw Water through the pump and into the receptacle to prime the pump and fill the receptacle until the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve opens to permit escape of water from the receptacle.

3. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle having a valve controlled inlet for communicating with a pump and a valve controlled outlet, a float controlled actuating means for closing the inlet valve when water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, suction actuated means for closing the outlet valve, and a pipe line for connecting the suction actuated means and the receptacle with the intake manifold of an engine whereby suction in the manifold may act to close the outlet valve and create pump and into the receptacle until the float controlled means therein is moved to close the inlet valve.

4. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle, a cylinder extending vertically in said receptacle and through the top and bottom thereof, said cylinder having side openings communieating with the receptacle near the bottom thereof and constituting an outlet for the receptacle, a valve for closing the lower end of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder connected with said valve and serving to close the valve when drawn upwardly, said piston blocking communication between the side openings and the upper end of the cylinder, an inlet valve mounted through the bottom of said receptacle and having a stem moved upwardly to open position, a pipe extending from the inlet valve for connection with a pump tolbe primed, a float in said receptacle having an arm pivotally mounted and connected with the stem of the inlet valve to permit opening of the valve when the float is in lowered position and close the valve when the float is moved upwardly by water reaching a predetermined level in the receptacle, and a pipe having branches connected with the upper end of said cylinder and the upper portion of said receptacle, said pipe being adapted to be connected with the intake manifold of an engine to create suction in the cylinder to draw the piston upwardly and close the outlet valve and suction through the receptacle to draw water into the receptacle.

5. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle, a cylinder constituting an outlet for the receptacle, a valve for closing the lower end of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for closing the outlet valve when drawn upwardly in the cylinder, an inlet valve mounted through the bottom of the receptacle and opening inwardly, a pipe for connecting the inlet valve with a pump casing and drawing priming water into the pump when suction is exerted through the casing and the pipe, float controlled means in said receptacle for normally holding the inlet valve open and closing the same when water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, and a conduit for connecting the upper end of the cylinder and the upper portion of the receptacle with the intake manifold of an engine whereby suction in the manifold may create suction in the upper portion of the cylinder to close the outlet Valve and suction through the receptacle and the pipe to draw priming water into the pump.

6. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle, an inlet valve mounted through the bottom of said receptacle and opening inwardly, a pipe for connecting said valve with a pump to be primed, float controlled means in said receptacle normally holding the valve open and adapted to close the Valve when water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, a cylinder disposed vertically through the receptacle and constituting an outlet for said receptacle, an inwardly closing outlet valve for the lower end of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder above the outlet connected with the outlet valve and slidable vertically in the cylinder for closing the outlet valve, and a pipe line for connecting the upper end of the cylinder and the upper portion of the receptacle with the intake manifold of an engine whereby suction in the manifold may create suction in the cylinder and through the receptacle.

7. A pump primer comprising a water receptacle, an inlet valve mounted through the bottom of said receptacle and opening inwardly, a pipe for connecting said valve with a pump to be primed, float controlled means in said receptacle normally holding the valve open and adapted to close the valve when water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, a cylinder constituting an outlet for said receptacle, an inwardly closing outlet valve for said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for closing the outlet valve, and a pipe line for connecting the intake manifold of an engine with the upper end of the cylinder to create suction in the cylinder and shift the piston upwardly to close the outlet valve, the pipe line also communicating with the receptacle to create suction through the receptacle and its inlet pipe to draw priming water through a pump.

' B R D L: M RE, 

